I believe your thoughts run contrary to the evidence available. I am no where near the operation, I can only respond with what I've read.
First, to accept that the facility needed to be completely revamped is to say the prior team didn't have a good work area. Their ability to keep these "ancient artifacts" running, and running well and reliably (OK, most of the time, there was the problem of flue failure, but it was researched and corrected) tells me that they had a workable shop.
Second, the massive turnover of the department personnel, with a resulting complete loss of “long memory” tells me that something is "rotten in Denmark." The large scale scrapping of materials and tools I find disturbing, both from a preservation standpoint (I am a former museum curator) and from a servicing standpoint. The long memory that could tell you what unknown stuff is was gone, so I fear that useful "stuff" was scrapped.
Third, the ongoing defamation of the previous staff of the steam department is completely unprofessional and (in my opinion) shows a lack of moral character. It also seems like listening to politicians; blame someone else—and we all know how to tell if a politician is lying (his lips are moving).
That all this has gone on, and we (the public that is) see no response from the top management is puzzling and worrisome to some.
At least that’s how I see it from here in Northern California, far, far away from Cheyenne. Others may tell you that you are “Drinking the Kool-Aid,” but I preferred to explain the reasons for my dismay at the current operation of the UP steam program. And, as one of my steamboat friends says, “But what do I know?”